Can Used Tires Be Sold?

[VonLouis]

Don't throw away your replaced tires. Some relatively new-looking used tires can be recycled, typically selling for about 20-160 yuan for four tires, with the specific price depending on the depth of the tire tread and whether there is any severe damage. Here are the uses of old tires: 1. Tire Retreading: Hand over the replaced tires to reliable professional organizations for purchase to prevent them from being exploited by unscrupulous businesses, which could endanger driving safety. These organizations that recycle old tires often have well-established mechanisms. If it is determined that the old tire meets the criteria for retreading, it undergoes a specialized repair process and is transformed into a retreaded tire. 2. Turning Waste into Treasure: If the tires do not meet the standards, they are usually processed for oil refining. Not only can beneficial products be extracted, but the rubber powder and rubber granules from the processed tires are widely used in modified asphalt, waterproof materials, rubber floor tiles, or rubber tracks. Of course, these discarded old tires can also be cleaned and directly repurposed into chairs, tables, and benches, not only saving money but also allowing for customized designs based on personal preferences, which is also an eco-friendly approach.

[OVanessa]

I've been running a repair shop for over a decade, and indeed, used tires can be sold for money. Every time a car owner gets new tires, we take the old ones. If we have a large quantity, recyclers will come to collect them by truck, paying based on the tire size and wear condition. Passenger car tires usually fetch about 2-3 yuan each, while truck tires can sell for around 10 yuan. Some people specifically collect them to make rubber granules for sports fields, while others refurbish and sell them as second-hand tires. However, it's important to note that in some places, used tires are piled up and burned to extract steel wires, which pollutes the environment—this illegal business should not be touched. It's advisable to find a legitimate recycling point, which is both profitable and environmentally friendly.

[LeElliot]

Previously, I had four old tires piled up at home, taking up space and emitting unpleasant odors. Later, the property manager, Lao Wang, suggested that I could sell them to scrap collectors. Surprisingly, there was indeed demand, and I got five yuan per tire. The scrap collector mentioned that old tires are mainly crushed to make rubber tracks or recycled rubber. However, he reminded me that tires with worn-out treads won’t fetch a good price, and those with sidewall cracks are even less desirable. Now, the auto repair shop at the entrance of our community also recycles them. I’ll go ask them about their pricing another day.

[MacMartin]

Last month, our neighborhood held an environmental protection activity where I learned the tricks of handling waste tires. Now, policies encourage recycling and reuse, with designated recycling stations in every city. The steel wires and rubber in tires are treasures—they can be processed into plastic tracks for playgrounds. My neighbor even sold old tires to a recycling station and got some cigarette money in return. But never dump them on the roadside for convenience—rubber takes over a century to degrade and pollutes the soil. Piled-up tires also breed mosquitoes and even pose fire hazards. Proper disposal benefits everyone.

[VonMaddox]

In the veteran drivers' group, we often discuss how to deal with waste tires. Truck driver Lao Liu said that those with minor wear can be sold to retreading factories, with one tire worth half a tank of fuel. Private car owner Xiao Zhang sells old tires on second-hand platforms, where some buy them for drifting practice at driving schools. Actually, waste tires have many uses: cutting them in half as flower pots, tying them to trees as swings, or modifying them into outdoor tables and chairs. I recently plan to paint my replaced tires and turn them into yard decorations, saving disposal fees while being practical.